BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 530

By: Schofield

Elections

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the current manner in which some voters receive an initial or renewal voter registration certificate immediately preceding an election in which the voter will not be eligible to vote creates confusion regarding voter eligibility. C.S.H.B. 530 seeks to address this issue by prohibiting a voter registrar from delivering an initial or renewal voter registration certificate during a specified timeframe.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 530 amends the Election Code to prohibit a voter registrar from delivering an initial voter registration certificate to an applicant or the applicant's agent, as applicable, during the 30 days immediately preceding an election in which the applicant's registration will not be effective but to require the registrar to deliver such a certificate in person to the applicant or applicant's agent or by mail to the applicant not later than the 45th day after the date the registrar receives the application. The bill prohibits a voter registrar from delivering a renewal voter registration certificate to a voter during the 30 days immediately preceding an election in which the applicant's registration will not be effective.    

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 530 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Section 13.144, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), not [Not] later than the 30th day after the date the registrar receives the application, the registrar shall deliver the original of an initial certificate: (1)  in person to the applicant or the applicant's agent appointed under Section 13.003; or (2)  by mail to the applicant. (c)  The registrar may not deliver an initial certificate during the 30 days immediately preceding an election in which the applicant's registration will not be effective.	SECTION 1.  Section 13.144, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), not [Not] later than the 30th day after the date the registrar receives the application, the registrar shall deliver the original of an initial certificate: (1)  in person to the applicant or the applicant's agent appointed under Section 13.003; or (2)  by mail to the applicant. (c)  The registrar may not deliver an initial certificate during the 30 days immediately preceding an election in which the applicant's registration will not be effective but shall deliver the certificate in the manner prescribed by Subsection (a) not later than the 45th day after the date the registrar receives the application.
No equivalent provision.	SECTION 2.  Section 14.001, Election Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (e)  Notwithstanding Subsection (d), the registrar may not deliver a renewal certificate during the 30 days immediately preceding an election in which the applicant's registration will not be effective.
SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only to a voter registration certificate for which an application is received by the voter registrar on or after September 1, 2017.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 4. Same as introduced version.